Roman empire study guide Flashcards
Paterfamilias
The male head of the family or household
Aqueduct
an artificial channel for conveying water, typically in the form of a bridge across a valley or other gap.
The Senate
the state council of the ancient Roman republic and empire, which shared legislative power with the popular assemblies, administration with the magistrates, and judicial power with the knights.
Plebians
a member of the lower social classes
Patricians
Rich upper class of Rome with slaves and voting rights that were typically government officials.
Twelve Tables
The Laws of the Twelve Tables was the legislation that stood at the foundation of Roman law.
Inflation
a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money
Spain
A nation in Europe that borders the Mediterranean Sea, Portugal, and France.
Latin
the language of ancient Rome and its empire, widely used historically as a language of scholarship and administration
Vault & Arches
An arch is a curved form found in architecture that can support itself. A vault is a structural form used for support and created with multiple arches
Bribe
To persuade or convince someone
Emperor
The ruler of an empire
Diocletian
Roman Emperor who when faced with military problems decided in 286 to divide the Roman Empire between himself in the east and Maximian in the west; he initiated the last persecution of the Christians in 303 (245-313)
The Huns
The Huns were a nomadic people who lived in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe between the 4th and 6th century AD
Barbarians
According to the Romans Barbarians were just uncivilized people.
Constantine
Constantine made Christianity the main religion of Rome, and created Constantinople, which became the most powerful city in the world
Visigoths
The Visigoths were a Germanic people who were largely a part of the decline of ancient Rome
Alaric
Alaric, (born c. 370, Peuce Island [now in Romania]—died 410, Cosentia, Bruttium [now Cosenza, Italy]), chief of the Visigoths from 395 and leader of the army that sacked Rome in August 410, an event that symbolized the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Taxes
a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers’ income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions.
Province
A province is a part of a country like a state but slightly different
Gaul
The Gauls were a group of Celtic peoples of mainland Europe in the Iron Age and the Roman period. Their homeland was known as Gaul. They spoke Gaulish, a continental Celtic language. The Gauls emerged around the 5th century BC as bearers of La Tène culture north and west of the Alps.
Citizen
an inhabitant of a particular town or city
Constantinople
An ancient city in modern-day Turkey that’s now known as Istanbul.
Balkan Provinces
There is no universal agreement on what constitutes the Balkans. However, the following are usually included: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.
The battle of adrianople
battle fought at present Edirne, in European Turkey, resulting in the defeat of a Roman army commanded by the emperor Valens at the hands of the Germanic Visigoths
general welfare
The concern from the government for the well being of their kingdom and people
How was Roman society structured
Roman society was structured around family and there was a sort of pyramid scheme around it with the father of the household in charge then the younger men then the women, children, and slaves
What role did slavery play In Roman society
Enslaved people did most of the hard labor in Rome and they could earn their freedom after a long while although some people were born free they could be sold into slavery by their parents to make some money
How did the ruling class attempt to keep the lower levels of society happy
They built the coliseum and had slaves fight to the death in order entertain the lower levels of society and attempt to keep them from revolting
What elements of Latin can still be found today
Many of the roots of our words are Latin roots which is the language used in ancient Rome
